Arthur Rees
Encyclopedia
Arthur Morgan Rees CBE
, QPM
, DL
(20 November 1912 – 13 May 1998) was a Welsh
international rugby union
flanker, the Chief Constable of both Denbighshire and Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, a sports' administrator and World War II fighter pilot.
in 1912. He was raised as a Welsh speaker
, not learning English until the age of seven. He was educated at Llandovery College
before matriculating to St Catharine's College, Cambridge
. He joined the Metropolitan Police after leaving Cambridge in 1935, joining the Royal Air Force
after the outbreak of the Second World War. Serving as a pilot, he rose to the rank of Squadron Leader, ending as acting Wing Commander.
In 1943 he married Dorothy Webb, with whom he would have a daughter. With the end of the war he returned to the Metropolitan force, rising through the ranks until becoming the Chief Constable of Denbighshire in 1957. He remained with the Welsh force until 1964 when he became the Chief Constable of Staffordshire.
in 1970 and was made a Deputy Lieutenant
to Staffordshire in 1967. In May 1977 he was granted the Freedom of the City
of London and in November of the same year was made a Knight of the Order of St John.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QPM
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(20 November 1912 – 13 May 1998) was a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
flanker, the Chief Constable of both Denbighshire and Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, a sports' administrator and World War II fighter pilot.
Personal history
Rees was born in the village of LlangadogLlangadog
Llangadog is a community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales, which includes the villages of Llangadog, Bethlehem and Capel Gwynfe. A notable local landscape feature is Y Garn Goch with two Iron Age hill forts....
in 1912. He was raised as a Welsh speaker
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, not learning English until the age of seven. He was educated at Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
before matriculating to St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
. He joined the Metropolitan Police after leaving Cambridge in 1935, joining the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
after the outbreak of the Second World War. Serving as a pilot, he rose to the rank of Squadron Leader, ending as acting Wing Commander.
In 1943 he married Dorothy Webb, with whom he would have a daughter. With the end of the war he returned to the Metropolitan force, rising through the ranks until becoming the Chief Constable of Denbighshire in 1957. He remained with the Welsh force until 1964 when he became the Chief Constable of Staffordshire.
Awards
For his many years as a high ranking police officer and his work on sporting bodies, Rees was gifted with several awards. In 1960 he was appointed the Order of the British Empire which was followed by a Commander of the British Empire in 1974. He was awarded the Queen's Police MedalQueen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
in 1970 and was made a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
to Staffordshire in 1967. In May 1977 he was granted the Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of London and in November of the same year was made a Knight of the Order of St John.